Am I Holding Onto Chains

In review of Matthew 1:21-23 it says, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means “God with us”).”

Bottom Line:

Jesus came to save us from our sins. In Jesus we have “God with us”.

What this means to me:

God sent his son into the world to provide himself, “God with us” and to save me from the debt and penalty of my sins.

Today I consider how God is “Savior” for my life. In the first chapter of Matthew, God tells me that He is my Savior. Through Jesus I’m saved and have freedom from the bondage of sin.

There are days when I feel like my sin is too big for God. Other days when I feel like my weakness makes me unworthy of salvation. Romans 3:23 tells me everyone has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Everyone. Given this, I’m not the only one who struggles with feeling unworthy. I can probably be assured that I’m not alone in my imperfection.

Before Jesus, I was in essence locked up in chains. However the very minute I asked him to be my Savior, those chains were unlocked. I still have a role to play! I need to unwrap the chains and let go of them.

In Romans 6:14 it says, “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God's grace. God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with you and to save you from your sins.” (NLT).

So the chains are now unlocked. I have been set free! So I need to make sure that I unwrap them, let them go, and leave them behind.

So today I should consider what chains I may still be holding on to that are weighing me down or holding me back?

This morning I pray, “Lord, thank You for saving me and freeing me from the chains of sin. Today I surrender my chains, my addictions, controlling attitude, pride, insecurity, overeating, overspending, lust, laziness, and compulsiveness; all to You. I ask for wisdom to recognize the areas in my life where chains are choking me but I cannot see them. I want to walk in the freedom that You paid for me to have!

In appreciation for lifting my chains I will quote and hold onto Psalm 145:2, I will praise you every day, yes, I will praise you forever. (NLT)